The Padres are looking to deal pitching and they will be busy this week. Aaron Harang, Heath Bell, Chad Qualls and Mike Adams are all on the trade block and they should each bring a nice return for the Padres, who are on the hunt for young hitters. The Padres could also move lefty starter/reliever Wade LeBlanc this week. The Padres are also interested in dealing outfielder Ryan Ludwick who is one of the best hitters on the trade market. They should get a nice ransom in return for Ludwick. Chris Denorfia, Orlando Hudson, Brad Hawpe and Alberto Gonzalez are also on the trading block for the Padres. The Padres need to make some big changes before they are ready to compete and that will start this week.

The number 1 need of the Padres is to add offense and that’s exactly what I would go after. The Royals are really trying to unload outfielder Jose Guillen. I would try to get the Royals to agree to pay the rest of Guillen’s salary and for that I would send them 24-year old righty reliever Ernesto Frieri and 27-year old righty reliever Adam Russell. The Cubs are desperate to trade outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. With that in mind I would get Cubs to pay Fukudome’s salary and for that I would deal them 25-year old switch hitting shortstop Lance Zawadzki. I would try to trade up for a lefty reliever dealing 26-year old lefty Cesar Ramos to the A’s for lefty Jeremy Blevins. The Padres could also use a veteran infielder for the bench and Ronny Cedeno of the Pirates fits that mold. I’m pretty sure the Pirates would take back 25-year old righty swinging 2B Matt Antonelli for him. I think adding Guillen, Fukudome, Cedeno and Blevins would make the Padres a lot more dangerous in the N.L. than they already are.

The Padres are a very surprising 49-33 on the season which has them 4 games ahead of the Dodgers in the N.L. West. The Padres could really use at least one hard hitting outfielder and maybe two to give Adrian Gonzalez backup. Jose Bautista, Luke Scott, David DeJesus, Jose Guillen, Cody Ross and Corey Hart are likely at the top of the Padres’ wish list. The Padres could also use another lefty in the pen with Scott Downs, Will Ohman, Rafael Perez, Jerry Blevins, Doug Slaten, Tim Byrdak and Javier Lopez being at the top of the list. I don’t think the Padres can afford to stand pat and win the N.L. West as too much pressure will be placed on Adrian Gonzalez and the pitching staff. The time to act is right now for the Padres.

The Padres are looking for another outfielder and there are a few good ones on the open market. If they are looking for a power bat Luke Scott of the Orioles or Cody Ross of the Marlins make sense. The Padres could likely get either one of them for Edwin Mujica and either Ryan Webb or Adam Russell. The Padres though might be looking for a leadoff type hitter instead of a banger. With that in mind guys like Scott Podsednik, David DeJesus and Rajai Davis likely move to the top of the list. I would think that Davis would only cost one of the three relievers mentioned earlier while the Royals would likely require two of the relievers for either Podsednik or DeJesus. If the Padres don’t want to aim that high they could probably pry Austin Kearns from the Indians or Ben Francisco from the Phillies for any one of those relievers. The Padres are so packed in the bullpen that they can afford to move Mujica, Webb or Russell as long as they fortify the lineup.

If the Yankees don’t want to spend top dollar for a starting pitcher over the winter then the Padres is one team they will be interested in calling. The Padres want to move veteran righty starting pitcher Chris Young and the Yankees could offer them Juan Miranda, Mark Melcanon and Edwar Ramirez to get the deal done. That would be a outstanding haul for the Padres. With Adrian Gonzalez likely to be traded over the winter Miranda would step right in to replace him. Melcanon and Ramirez both have live arms so Bud Black would likely turn them both into solid relievers.